Page 4 – Visit Kingston

September 17, 2024September 17, 2024

Kingston WritersFest 2024 provides food for thought

Garnering literary sensations from across the country, Kingston WritersFest returns for its 18th year from September 25 to 29.

The festival features a diverse array of writers, including an author who survived both the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution, and a cookbook creator who tells the stories of Toronto through food. There will be a panel discussion about the state of democracy in North America moderated by journalist Carol Off, whose guests include Rob Goodman, a former speechwriter for the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

In addition to speaker events, WritersFest hosts programs for youth and immersive workshops; award-winning authors teach you how to write the first sentence of a book or fictionalize reality.

Visit Kingston WritersFest’s website to learn more about the events and purchase your tickets. The festival offers various pay-what-you-can options so cost doesn’t prevent you from attending.

Here are just a few authors attending Kingston WritersFest this year. You can go to Novel Idea (156 Princess Street) to purchase their books.

Danny Ramadan

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 25 (7–8 pm)

Danny Ramadan opens the festival by taking audiences through Syria’s underground network of queer safe homes.

Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir is about Ramadan’s experience fleeing persecution in Syria. As well as discussing his story, the novelist and activist shares his experience writing seven books and how he raised $300,000 for LGBTQI+ identifying refugees.

Anh N. Duong

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 27 (1:15–2:15 pm)

Anh N. Duong bore witness to the horrors of both the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution.

He recounted the experience to his daughter, award-winning documentarian Ashley Da-Lê Duong, in a series of letters which became his memoir, Dear Da-Lê: A Father’s Memoir of the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution.

Anh comes to Kingston to discuss his time in conflict-torn Vietnam and Iran. Ashley, who’s making a film about her father’s journey from Asia to Canada, will be onstage with Anh to help share his story.

Marianne K. Miller

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 27 (2:30–3:30 pm)

Ernest Hemingway wasn’t always a renowned author–he was once a scrappy journalist for the Toronto Star.

Marianne K. Miller hits The Screening Room’s stage to discuss her book We Were the Bullfighters which explores Hemingway’s career as a journalist in Canada. In Miller’s new historical fiction novel, Hemingway is transfixed by Norman “Red” Ryan’s escape from the Kingston Penitentiary.

Anthony Oliveira

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 27 (3:45–4:45 pm)

After attending an all-boys Catholic school, Oliveira intimately understands the intersection between sexuality and religion.

Oliveira’s book, Dayspring, is a queer coming-of-age story about Christ and his beloved disciples. Visit The Screening Room in September to learn how the author has reimagined and revealed historical narratives to be queer.

Tanya Talaga

Kingston Market Square Hotel, Limestone Ballroom | September 27 (7:30–9:00 pm)

This award-winning author and journalist comes to Kingston Market Square Hotel to discuss the oppression Indigenous people face in Canada.

A retelling of Canada’s history through an Indigenous lens, The Knowing tells Tanya Talaga’s family’s endurance of cultural genocide and government sanctions.

Misty Pratt

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 28 (11 am–noon)

As a health researcher, Misty Pratt is familiar with the diminishment of women as “crazy” or “hysterical.”

All in Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women’s Health by Pratt explores the connection between women and “hysteria,” a condition coined in Ancient Greece. Using scientific facts and humour, Pratt explains how the medical system must change to better address women’s mental health concerns.

Lisa Moore

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 28 (3:30–4:30 pm)

Jack Whalen suffered extensive abuse at a reform school in Newfoundland, detailed in Lisa Moore’s book, Invisible Prisons. The Giller Prize nominee explores Jack’s ability to turn his life around following the traumatic experience, becoming a dedicated father and husband

Jack’s daughter, Brittney, was appalled by his past treatment and vowed to seek justice for her father. Now a lawyer, she’s doing so in court. As Brittney continues to advocate for Jack, Moore poses the question to audiences in Kingston, what’s justice from a broken system?

Vincent Anioke

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 28 (4:45–5:45 pm)

An addict’s love for pottery, a ghost’s delight at her grief-stricken partner, and contentions between staff and students at a boarding school.

Anioke hits The Screening Room’s stage to talk about his book of short stories, Perfect Little Angels. The Austin Clark Fiction Prize winner discusses how experiences of mourning and memory, love and longing, and marginalization and community are captured in the pages of his debut book.

M.G. Vassanji

The Screening Room, Cameo | September 29 (9:30–10:30 am)

How do we define “belonging”? M.G. Vassanji explores this question in his recent book of essays, Nowhere, Exactly: On Identity and Belonging.

The Order of Canada recipient is no stranger to the WritersFest stage, returning to Kingston this year to discuss the themes explored in his new book. Nowhere, Exactly offers personal explorations of the grief, loss, and hope that comes with the immigrant experience.

Len Senater

Grandview, Delta Hotel | September 29 (noon–1:30 pm)

Closing out the festival is Len Senater, founder of The Depanneur–an event venue hosting chefs, cooking classes, and weekly brunches in Toronto.

The Depanneur Cookbook celebrates Toronto’s cultural diversity, featuring 100 recipes from various chefs across the city. Senatar’s cookbook includes a crispy-skin red braised pork belly recipe made by Taiwanese chef Alex Chen. Flipping to another page of the cookbook, you’ll encounter Mark Kusitor’s Soup Bouyon ak Legumes or vegan Haitian soup.

Enjoy brunch while the photographer and food enthusiast shares tales from The Depanneur, recounts the chefs he has met, and the squid ink gnocchi he’s savoured along the way.

September 1, 2024September 20, 2024

Four new spots in Kingston’s west end

West-end Kingston now boasts a restaurant serving classic maritime cuisine, a craft burger joint, and a spacious beer garden with an expanded menu.

Be sure to include these four new gems in your weekend itinerary.

Burger 347

1347 Gardiners Road | Tues–Sat (11:30 am–9 pm)

From the owners of the west-end Mexican restaurant Mesa Fresca, comes a mouthwatering craft burger joint.

Burger 347 serves loaded burgers with meat supplied by Barriefield Market, a top-quality Kingston-based butcher.

The new restaurant makes classic burgers topped with cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and a special sauce. If you’re looking to expand your palate, try the poutine extreme burger–a grilled patty on a brioche bun loaded with St. Albert’s cheese curd, house poutine gravy, and potato straws.

For vegans and vegetarians, order the O.G. veggie burger–a plant-based bun stuffed with a house-made black bean patty, plant-based jalapeño mayo, seared red onion, shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, and Mesa Fresca’s fresh guacamole.

Beyond their flavourful burgers, the restaurant serves mac and cheese, poutine, and dessert, including apple wonton cups and brownie sundaes made with gluten-free brownies, whipped cream, and vanilla ice cream. They also offer a dedicated kid’s menu.

Complement your meal with a mocktail, glass of wine, or cocktail. Special cocktails include the 347 Lemonade with citron rum, Cointreau, lemon juice, and fresh mint, and the Creamsicle, infused with Galliano, citron vodka, orange crush, and coconut milk. Burger 347 also serves on-tap beers from local breweries like MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company and Riverhead Brewing Company.

Settle into their sunny patio on a hot summer’s day, or rustic, spacious interior on a chilly winter evening. Call 613-384-0377 for takeout.

Skeleton Park Brewery at Spearhead Brewing Company’s taproom

675 Development Drive | Sun–Wed (12-9 pm), Thu–Sat (12-11 pm)

Spearhead Brewing Company has partnered with Skeleton Park Brewery to create the ultimate destination for beer lovers.

Spearhead is now serving beer from Skeleton Park in their cozy taproom and on their expansive, orange-accented patio. New brews include Skeleton Park’s Sol Juice, a dry brew with a citrus aroma and lychee fruit taste, and Proper English Ale, an earthy, floral beer with notes of Sauvignon Blanc.

The expanded menu still features classic brews like Spearhead’s Hawaiian Style Pale Ale, a bold beer with vibrant pineapple and citrusy flavours.

Reserve a table on Spearhead’s website.

The Cannery Kitchen & Social

1550 Princess Street | Daily (breakfast: 6:30–11 am), (dinner: 4–9 pm)

A popular place to dine on Canada’s east coast, The Cannery Kitchen & Social has opened a new location inside the DoubleTree by Hilton Kingston.

Step inside the restaurant’s modern interior and indulge in their signature dishes, including the Cannery burger–a bistro bun with herb butter, bacon, Swiss cheese, tomato, onion straws, and garlic mayonnaise–or the seafood linguini with shrimp, mussels, scallops, calamari, red peppers, garlic, olive oil, shallots, and white wine.

Try the grilled Dijon salmon with garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and a Dijon butter sauce, or the creamy shrimp & scallop risotto finished with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, baby spinach, and parmesan cheese.

Continue your culinary journey through the eastern provinces with the maritime mule, infused with vodka, ginger beer, lime, and mint. The Cannery boasts a plethora of classic cocktails, mocktails, wines, and beers on tap.

The restaurant also serves breakfast, featuring savoury and sweet meals such as the cinnamon French toast topped with whipped cream, butter, and maple syrup.

If you have dietary restrictions, The Cannery offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-friendly options. They even boast a delicious kids’ menu, so you can take the whole family to this west-end restaurant.

Call 613-541-4683 to book your table today.

Rhodes Restro + Bar

2360 Princess Street | Sun–Thu (7 am–10 pm), Fri–Sat (7 am–11 pm)

Breakfast (Mon–Sun: 7 am–3 pm)

Lunch (Mon–Fri: 11 am–3:30 pm)

This eclectic west-end restaurant boasts daily deals, from 25 percent off their signature burgers on Tuesdays to $16 stuffed Yorkshire pudding on Sundays.

Stop by Rhodes Restro + Bar for lunch when every menu item, from chicken carbonara to their signature burger, is $15.

Their early morning menu boasts pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and their famous corned beef benedict–three poached eggs on toasted marble-rye bread with braised corned beef, caramelized onions, and sautéed mushrooms, smothered in a hollandaise sauce.

For dinner, Rhodes serves a variety of appetizers–25 percent off on Mondays–and entrées like the steak & lobster dish that’s $25 on Fridays and $28 on Saturdays. For dessert, indulge in Rhodes apple crisp melt-away, infused with a coconut cinnamon streusel and topped with a homemade caramel sauce.

Visit Rhode’s website to learn more about the restaurant’s daily deals and explore their menu.

For more standout restaurants outside the downtown core, read Kingston’s west-end food gems.

August 29, 2024September 3, 2024

A fall day in the apple orchard: Visit Waddell Apples in Kingston

Whether it’s a chilly September morning gathering Mcintosh apples or a crisp October afternoon purchasing jugs of cider from the farm store, Waddell Apples is the place to be this fall.

For over two decades, Waddell Apples (1345 Washburn Road) has opened its orchard to the public on Labour Day weekend. Their pick-your-own orchard is open daily until the end of October from 10 am to 4:30 pm and features several varieties throughout the fall season.

Steeped in tradition

The Waddell family has been in the apple farming industry for over 130 years. The family-run farm in Kingston opened in 2003 when Charlie and Marita Waddell purchased the property. Charlie and Marita utilized sustainable and environmentally friendly practices to cultivate their apples. After running the orchard for 20 years, they passed Waddell’s off to their eldest daughter, Carmen, and her husband, Rik Vanderlinde.

While the face of Waddell’s changed in 2022, loyal customers stayed. Families have made Waddell’s part of their fall tradition, taking the 20-minute drive from downtown Kingston through lush country roads to the farm every September and October.

An idyllic visit to the orchard

If you’re a newcomer, here’s what to expect during your first visit to Waddell’s.

Before hitting the orchard, you’ll walk into the farm store–an 1830s log cabin adorned with cedar logs and exposed beams. The farm store, open 10 am to 5 pm daily, sells a variety of locally made sweet treats, including Mrs. Garrett’s butter tarts, chocolates from Ridgway Confections, and Wilton Cheese Factory cheeses.

After exploring the assortment of goodies, you’ll head down to the apple picking kiosk to meet Nicky who’s worked at Waddell’s since the beginning; she’ll hand you your an apple-picking bag. Using her extensive experience, she’ll tell you where to locate the best apple trees.

Bundled in your sweater and scarf, it’s time to go apple picking. Trees are tagged to indicate the type of apple they offer. If you visit Waddell’s in October, you can pick Rik’s favorite apple, the vibrant, semi-sweet Macoun apples. If you come to the farm in September, be sure to grab Carmen’s preference—the Cortland apple.

Once your basket is full, take a stroll along the Rideau Canal or head back to the farm store and snack on a fresh apple at one of the picnic tables.

No apple left unpicked

After the orchard closes in late October, bakers in and around Kingston visit the farm to grab late-season apples, incorporating them into sauces and preserves. Waddell’s also collaborates with Loving Spoonful, whose volunteers glean apples and distribute them to Kingston community partners, working towards a resilient and equitable food system.

As Carmen and Rik, with the help of their two young children, Owen and Charlotte, as well as their family and other longtime employees, prepare the orchard for its grand opening, they’re reminded of the farm’s rich history and the deep value it holds in the hearts of both Kingston community members and visitors.

Make this multi-generational farm a part of your fall tradition and visit Waddell Apples.

August 28, 2024September 1, 2024

Gruesome executions and terrifying ghost stories of Kingston’s 19th-century military fort

Looming over the Limestone City is a 19th-century military fort with a tragic and haunted history.

The Haunted Walk offers a 75-minute walking tour inside Fort Henry where expert storytellers share bone-chilling supernatural encounters and disturbing tales. You’ll traverse the historic building’s schoolhouse, said to be crawling with spirits, and its limestone underground.

“Walking through Fort Henry at night and being in the tunnels, you feel like you’re being watched,” Glenn Shackleton, owner of The Haunted Walk, said in an interview.

Petrifying tales from the past

Your steps will echo against the small spiral staircase leading to the underground tunnels, dripping with condensation and dotted with spider webs. During the 1800s, detainees would shuffle through the hallway towards the gallows.

Some prisoners, however, were luckier than others. Fort Henry is the location of an audacious prison escape you’ll learn about on your tour.

Those who were unable to traverse Fort Henry’s 20-foot walls to freedom were hanged near Kingston’s courthouse or directly outside the military fortification. On your tour, you’ll get an unobstructed view of where Nils Von Schoultz was executed in 1838.

Schoultz, a Swedish military officer, and 400 members of the seditious association called the Hunter’s Lodge marched down to Prescott, Ontario in the early 1800s, wanting to free Canada from the British Crown. Their coup, known as the Battle of Windmill, was unsuccessful. Schoultz was arrested and sentenced to death by British leaders.

Members of the Hunter’s Lodge were gruesomely hanged in downtown Kingston, but their execution didn’t go according to plan; tour guides will delve into all the grisly details.

The terrifying tales do not end with prisoners of war–soldiers stationed at Fort Henry endured harsh punishments and horrific conditions. Under the hot summer sun, soldiers charged with public drunkenness were forced to march across the military fort’s square in their thick wool coats.

Exhausted and dripping with sweat, those unable to handle the unbearable heat dropped dead in the middle of Fort Henry, right where you’ll stand.

Beyond the walls of Fort Henry

Outside the confines of the military fortification, tragedies occurred on Cedar Island. Surrounding the island is Deadman’s Bay–tour guides will tell you how the haunted waters got this ominous name.

Also visible from Fort Henry is Kingston’s idyllic skyline, marked with historic buildings and unique infrastructure. Tour guides will take a break from the spooky stories, giving you time to snap a picture of the pink and orange sunset.

When the sun finally dips below the horizon, shrouding you in darkness with only a dim lantern guiding your path, you’ll finish the tour in the school room and bakery. Before departing, tour guides will share hair-raising personal encounters with ghosts.

They’ll ask a brave volunteer to leave the room last, with the chance of encountering a tall, disfigured ghost known as “scuddles.”

More frights for scare seekers

The Haunted Walk of Fort Henry is available until the end of September. Explore The Haunted Walk’s other tours on their website.

Starting in September, Fort Henry has several spooky attractions you can check out, including Fort Fright and Terror Tuesdays. Book your tickets online.

See all of Kingston’s spooky attractions.

August 23, 2024September 16, 2024

Athletes of Kingston: Abi Tripp’s journey to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

While watching the 2012 Paralympic swim trials, Abi Tripp’s teammate told the eleven-year-old she was destined for Team Canada. Twelve years later, Tripp dons a red and white swim cap for the third time at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

Having recently won a silver medal at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in the 100-meter breaststroke, the Kingston –native is ready for her third Paralympic Games in Paris, taking place August 28 to September 8.

For Tripp, the road to the world stage wasn’t linear. She’s smashed Canadian records, faced disqualification, found guidance under a world-renowned coach, and built community at a Kingston swim club.

Finding her passion at home

Growing up in Kingston, Tripp took advantage of the city’s natural landscape and waterfront. She spent her childhood outdoors playing soccer and participating in triathlons.

During the Kids of Steel Triathlon at the Royal Military Collage, acclaimed marathon swimmer Vicki Keith discovered Tripp running around in ankle footer orthoses, used by children with cerebral palsy. The world-record holder was impressed by the five-year old’s tenacity and suggested Tripp join her swim team.

Tripp’s chance encounter with Keith was the spark of her Paralympic career.

“That was my gateway into the para-sport. A sport that was adapted for kids with cerebral palsy. [Keith] knew the ways to teach me how to swim properly and that was what built my confidence,” Tripp says during an interview.

Tripp then joined the Kingston Y Penguins, a swimming program for children diagnosed with physical disabilities. She started and ended her days in the pool with Keith and her teammates, including Jenna and Natalie Lambert who were a source of inspiration for the Paralympian.

“I felt comfortable there because I met other kids with disabilities like Jenna, who also had cerebral palsy, so we bonded over that,” Tripp says. “I learned that it was fine to be a little clumsy and to wear braces on my feet. And so, it just built this confidence in me.”

At 11 years old, Tripp qualified for the 2012 Paralympic swim trials, but her family decided the high-stakes competition was too much pressure for a young girl to handle. So, she cheered from the sidelines.

Tripp watched her teammates secure their spot on the world stage, signing their names on a double-decker bus cutout to mark their ticket to London 2012. Watching the celebratory moment reinforced Tripp’s goal of becoming a Paralympian.

Abbi’s road to Rio 2016 and Beyond

Missed school days and early morning bike rides to swim practice became Tripp’s reality, but such sacrifices proved worthwhile in 2015 when she qualified for the Parapan American Games and the 2016 Paralympic Games.

During Rio 2016, the 15-year-old swam her way to a Canadian record in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley. She placed sixth in the 400-meter freestyle, seventh in the 100-meter freestyle, and eighth in the 200-meter individual medley.

After her success in Rio, Tripp felt the podium was in reach during the next Paralympic Games in Tokyo. However, her hopes for a medal were dashed when officials deemed her breaststroke kick illegal, disqualifying her from the competition.

Tripp relocated to Quebec City to train for her next bid at the Paralympic podium. Her fortuitous disqualification has prepared her for whatever challenges Paris 2024 may bring.

“Being on both sides of the coin, having an amazing games and a disappointing games, and then coming to Paris, I’m ready to stay centred through all these emotional rollercoasters,” Tripp says.

To curb performance anxiety and maintain her focus, Tripp and her coaches meticulously scheduled her days in the Paralympic Village, from the time she eats breakfast to the hour she gets in the pool.

“The main thing is just controlling the things that I can control. On race day, I might feel sick, I might feel tired, I might just feel like I’m not ready to race. But the thing is, there’s no choice. It has to be done, and I’ve been trained to handle these types of situations,” Tripp says.

Tripp is going into race day with an open mind and wants to put down the best possible performance for her home country. She’s supported by her partner, Nicolas Guy Turbide—who also competes in Paralympic swimming for Team Canada—and her teammates. As a seasoned Paralympian, Tripp’s taken on a mentorship role this year, preparing rookie teammates for their first international competition.

A gentle reminder of home, Tripp’s parents are cheering her on in Paris.

While Tripp’s enjoying Parisian cuisine and the eclectic nature of the Paralympic Village, she misses Kingston’s waterfront trails and Pan Chancho Bakery’s lemon current rolls. She looks forward to returning, hopefully with a medal draped around her neck.

You can watch Tripp compete on September 4 and 5 on CBC and CBC Gem.

August 19, 2024August 19, 2024

Your guide to Open Farm Days 2024 in Kingston and Frontenac County

Taste sweet heirloom tomatoes at a tomato-tasting workshop, watch a seasoned chef make a dish infused with local ingredients, and explore a local farm.

Open Farm Days 2024 are back this August and September. Whether you indulge in a culinary experience, visit a charming farm or farmers’ market, or participate in an action-packed community event, you’ll support local producers in Kingston and Frontenac County.

You can take part in the following ticketed and drop-in events.

Culinary experiences

Chef demonstration in the amphitheater at Springer Market Square

August 24 (11 am–noon)

Bar Mayla’s sous chef, Hediye Cifci, brings her culinary expertise to Springer Market Square with an interactive chef’s demonstration.

Cifci will discuss the dish’s preparation, the local ingredients used, and provide a sample of the cuisine for $2.

Try some delicious food and improve your skills in the kitchen. Registration is not required.

Farm-to-table dining at Donald Gordon Hotel and Conference Centre Coach House Pub

August 24 (6 pm)

The executive chef at the Donald Gorden Hotel (421 Union Street) is whipping up a seven-course experience using ingredients from a wide variety of local partners.

You’ll indulge in local flavours, from produce grown by Fruition Berry Farm to dairy sourced by Limestone Organic Creamery, while enjoying the ambiance of a historic limestone carriage house. Buy your tickets today.

Kingston Food Tours – Classic & Tapas

Various dates in August and September

Stroll around downtown Kingston and learn about the Limestone City’s eclectic selection of restaurants. On the Classic and Tapas Kingston Food Tours, you’ll learn about local farmers and visit the restaurants that feature their fresh produce and meat.

Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse– specializing in tacos and fresh nautical fare–and Atomica Kitchen & Cocktails–serving a diverse array of pizzas infused with local ingredients–are just two restaurants you’ll experience on your culinary journey in Kingston. Both restaurants are Feast On certified, meaning they are committed to sourcing Ontario food and beverages.

You can purchase tickets for both the classic and tapas tours on Kingston Food Tours’ website.

Food and drink pairings with Bloom Farm & Rampant Kitchen

September 14 (3–7 pm)

Explore food and drink pairings filled with the fresh flavours of Frontenac County at Bloom Farm (4723 Petworth Road).

Chef Elisa Corrigan from Rampant Kitchen creates eight dishes for you to taste. You’ll even meet the farmers who cultivated the produce and meat featured in each food and drink pairing at this ticketed event.

Oktoberfest at Myers Cave Resort

September 21,22,28,29 (4-9 pm)

Surrounded by fall foliage and Celtic music, enjoy a pint of local craft beer from Kick & Push Brewery and a freshly baked pretzel from Grain & Goods Farmstead and Bakery at Myers Cave Resort’s (2471 Hwy 506) Oktoberfest celebration.

Locally made sausage from Seed to Sausage and produce from Glen Creek Farm are served underneath a cozy tent overlooking Georgia Lake. After finishing your Bavarian meal, put on a traditional German outfit and snap a photo with your friends and family. Buy your tickets today.

Farmers’ markets

Events at Frontenac Farmers Market

Tomato tasting – August 23 (3–7 pm)

Food & drink pairings – September 13 (3–7 pm)

Oktoberfest – October 4 (3–7 pm)

Frontenac Farmers Market (4500 Centennial Park Road), featuring vendors such as the Kingston Pickle Company and Grains & Goods Farmstead and Bakery, is hosting three Open Farm Days this year.

From giant heirlooms to plump Roma tomatoes, Field and Forest Market Garden & Bloom Farm are teaching you how to grow and use all types of tomatoes on August 23.

Explore food and drink pairings from the farmer market’s vendors on September 13 or experience traditional Bavarian culture at their Oktoberfest celebration– featuring live music and a beer garden–on October 4.

Registration is not required for any of the events.

Events at Sharbot Lake Farmers Market

Tomato-tasting workshop – August 24 (11 am–noon)

Farm-to-table BBQ & beer garden – August 31 (11 am–1 pm)

Bloom bar – September 7 (9 am–noon)

This farmers market framed by the tranquil waters of Sharbot Lake (Medical Centre Road) is offering a variety of Open Farm Days this year, including a tomato-tasting experience, a beer garden & BBQ, and a pick-your-own flower bouquet event.

Like the Frontenac Farmer’s Market, Sharbot Lake is also hosting a tomato-tasting experience on August 24–you’ll sample a selection of specialty and heritage tomatoes.

Indulge in food and beer from local suppliers at the farmer’s market’s Farm-to-table BBQ & beer garden on August 31. Come back to the quaint farm and pick up a bouquet of roses and hydrangeas during the Bloom Bar event, taking place September 7.

Registration is not required for any of the events.

Block party at Memorial Centre Farmers Market

August 25 (9 am– 2 pm)

The Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market’s (MCFM) block party brings beloved local vendors together to mark the height of harvest season.

The market is collaborating with Loving Spoonful–an organization that provides programs to improve access to local food products–to deliver an action-packed block party, featuring a DJ, fundraising events, and educational food activities highlighting the nuances of Kingston’s local food system.

Alongside the market’s usual produce, dairy, and grain sellers, the block party is serving prepared food items.

As summer gives way to fall, visit MFCM to celebrate the anticipated transition. Registration is not required.

Farm experiences

Lawn alternatives with Rebecca Boyar from West Coast Seeds

August 24 (11 am–noon)

Ditch your monochrome green lawn and create a colourful oasis brimming with bumblebees and butterflies.

Rebecca Boyar from West Coast Seeds is teaching you how to transform your lawn ahead of the winter at Sun Harvest Greenhouses (2542 Perth Road). She’ll tell you the benefits of having a lawn boasting various plants and flowers and show you how to achieve such gorgeous foliage.

Additionally, Boyar describes what seeds you’ll need and how to care for your new-and-improved lawn. The event is free, but registration is required.

Fall floral bud vase workshop at Maple Ridge Farm

September 19 (6 pm)

Cultivate your own blooming bouquet at Maple Ridge Farm (3098 Alton Road East) this September.

You’ll create beautiful floral arrangements bursting with rich hues and experiment with various design techniques. Take your creation home in a handcrafted vase created by Hyla at Root Cellar Studio.

Prime your green thumb and buy your tickets today.

Walking farm tour at Maple Ridge Farm

September 21,22 (10 am)

Nestled in a warm sweater, surrounded by orange and yellow fall foliage, discover this charming farm near Kingston.

The owners of Maple Ridge Farm (3098 Alton Road East), Mark and Becky, show their sustainable and regenerative farming practices, taking you through their sweeping fields and rustic barns encircled by herbs and livestock. Afterward, indulge in Maple Ridge’s fresh honey and purchase a jar of the golden liquid.

Buy your tickets to explore this outdoor oasis.

Beekeeping experience at Maple Ridge Farm

September 21,22, (1 pm or 3:30 pm)

Learn what it takes to produce Maple Ridge Farm’s sweet honey during their one-hour interactive beekeeping experience.

Dressed in a beekeeping suit, you’ll conduct hive investigations and learn about the black and yellow insects’ vital roles in our ecosystem. You can purchase your tickets today.

Microgreen learning experience at Collective Joy Farm

September 28 (9 am–2 pm)

Boasting 500 pounds of fresh produce, Collective Joy Farm (477 MacDonnell Street) will give you an insight into their microgreen expertise.

During this experience, Collective Joy Farm teaches you how to cook with and grow your own greens. They even offer a tour of their farm where produce is grown sans herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Grab a cold-pressed juice or smoothie on your way out. Registration is not required.

Community events

Canadian, Frontenac County, and Wolfe Island Plowing matches

Wolfe Island plowing matches – August 27

Canadian plowing matches – August 28–30

Frontenac County plowing matches – September 8

Take the short ferry ride over to Wolfe Island and watch farmers battle it out on their plows.

The Wolfe Island plowing match takes place on August 27 at Morningsight Farms (1227 Reeds Bay Road), with lunch served between noon and 1 pm.

The next day (August 28) on Morningsight Farms, the Canadian Plowing Championship commences, bringing together farmers from across the country. After the opening ceremonies at 9 am, farmers plow one plot of land. Competitors who advance to the next round plow again on August 29 and 30 to secure their spot at the World Plowing Championship in the Czech Republic.

Ron and Ruth Tate’s farm (4297 Perth Road) in Frontenac County is also hosting a local plowing match on September 8. If you’re not one of the competitors who’s cutting, lifting, and turning over the soil, there’ll be wagon rides, food trucks, and music at the farm.

Develop a new appreciation for the arduous process of cultivating fields and take your family to see a free plowing match this August and September. Registration is not required for any of the plowing matches.

A night in the village on Wolfe Island

August 29 (4–8 pm)

Cozy up in a horse-drawn carriage or snap a photo next to a vintage tractor on Wolfe Island.

A night in the village on Wolfe Island (1191 County Road) features local vendors, a life-sized model milking cow, and horse-drawn carriage tours of the city.

Just a short ferry ride from Kingston to Wolfe Island, make this quaint event your next family outing. Registration is not required.

Verona Lions Club Garlic Festival

August 31 (9 am–2 pm)

Grab some garlic to incorporate into your pasta or stir fry at Verona Lions Club Garlic Festival taking place in Verona Lions Hall (4504 Verona Sand Road) on August 31.

The event boasts local garlic, food, and a plethora of vendors. Registration is not required.

Perry Farm at Food Less Travelled

September 7 (10 am–4 pm)

Come to Perry Farm (6674 Road 38) to see Black Maine-Anjou and Speckle Park cattle, calves and bulls, donkeys, and pigs on September 7.

In addition to a variety of livestock scattered throughout the space, Perry Farm offers roping demonstrations, local foods, and baked goods.

Kingston Fall Fair

September 12 to 15

Kingston’s Fall Fair (303 York Street) featuring a neon Ferris wheel, tubs of cotton candy, plus beef, dairy, and horse shows is back for its 192nd year. From September 12 to 15, the fall fair hosts competitions in culinary arts, home crafts, flowers, and produce in support of local providers and farmers.

Buy your tickets to the Kingston Fall Fair on their website today.

The Great Wolfe Island Bake Off at the Blue Moose Bed and Breakfast

September 14 (11 am–4 pm)

Grab your whisks and rolling pins–the Great Wolfe Island Bake Off at the Blue Moose Bed & Breakfast (1277 Highway 96 (Main Street)) takes place September 14.

Competitors bring their best pie or cookie recipes for judges to taste. They’re scored based on the baked good’s taste, decoration, and use of locally sourced ingredients. If you’re not showcasing an apple pie or chocolate chip cookie, there’s be signature snacks, refreshments, and a cookie decorating station for your enjoyment.

So, take the ferry ride to Wolfe Island, bring your best-baked goods, and participate in the flour and sugar-filled fun. Registration is not required.

August 6, 2024August 26, 2024

Say I do to luxurious dining at the Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront

If you’re envisioning a wedding reception where guests will be raving about the elegant entrées and delightful desserts for weeks afterward, then the Holiday Inn wedding packages are perfect for you.

Locally sourced fine dining

The Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront offers luxurious wedding packages featuring a three- or four-course dinner with decadent and distinct poultry, fish, and beef dishes.

Packages include a cocktail reception with drinks, non-alcoholic punch, toast points, charcuterie, and other tasty finger foods. Guests are then served a plated dinner from a Feast On certified kitchen.

As a Feast On certified establishment, Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront buys Ontario-grown and locally supplied food, from Patchwork Gardens’ organic vegetables to hormone- and antibiotic-free meat from Wallace Beef.

Exceptional meals for all seasons

Sitting down for the lavish dinner, guests are offered two complimentary glasses of wine and a soup or salad. Options include a delicious spinach and frisée salad with chèvre feta, tomato concassé, roasted peppers, and a tart beet vinaigrette. For a fresh, sweet-salty salad, guests can enjoy baby gem lettuce with gorgonzola, prosciutto, candied walnuts, dried cherries, and a lemon-lime vinaigrette.

When the temperature cools and the trees covering Confederation Basin turn orange and gold, guests can savour a comforting chowder or bisque.

Depending on the wedding package you choose, attendees can indulge in an appetizer topped with homemade marinades and savory purées. Their lox and latkes dish, with beet-stained Ontario trout gravlax, dilled latkes, lemon crème fraîche, and frisée is perfect for a warm spring wedding while the house-made butternut ravioli with ricotta cheese, cream, and hazelnut butter, is ideal for a cozy winter reception.

Moving onto the main course, guests are offered their choice of chicken, beef, or fish–with a twist. Their chicken is wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with smoked tomatoes, chèvre, and baby spinach; their pork tenderloin is covered in a maple glaze and served with a caramelized apple compote. For a lighter option, guests can go with the pan-seared Chilean sea bass, delicately lined with a pesto crust and served with a side of chimichurri corn salsa.

Tell your guests to leave the room for dessert. They’re sure to enjoy the triple chocolate mousse or the Chef’s special–a banana pudding with a brown butter sauce.

Late night highlights

When the music picks up and the dance floor fills, the hotel offers its late-night reception menu. Guests can replenish with a variety of finger foods including the Kid Again platter, featuring mini hot dogs, nachos, mini pretzels, tater-tot cones, and mini corndogs, or the Pizza Pizza platter, filled with assorted pizzas, garlic bread, and tasty dipping sauces. Based on your chosen wedding package, guests can line up for a poutine bar, or recharge with a cup of coffee or tea.

The Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront accommodates dietary restrictions, ensuring your guests stay full, happy, and satisfied throughout the night.

Unbeatable panoramic views

In addition to their delicious menu, the Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront boasts gorgeous venues for large and intimate wedding receptions.

The Crawford room, accommodating 40 guests, and the Bellevue room, holding 220 guests, offer stunning views of Kingston’s harbour. When the sun sets, the waterfront is illuminated by warm string lights lining the Wharf and Feather patio.

Next to the Bellevue room, the Martello Room is the perfect place to set up a bar. As guests wait for a glass of wine, local craft beer, or mixed drink, they can admire the uninterrupted view of the Shoal Tower.

Accommodating 160 people, the Island View room faces east, offering sights of the Cataraqui River and Royal Military Collage. With an abundance of natural light, this venue boasts a dance floor and a large bar backdropped by the stunning view. Whatever room you choose, it will be meticulously decorated to your taste.

Following the picturesque reception, the hotel provides happy couples with a one- or two-night stay in the King Waterfront guest room overlooking the Cataraqui River. Upon entering the expansive space, you’re met with a bottle of bubbly and clean white linens.

To learn more about the hotel’s wedding packages, contact Judy Fisher, manager of catering and sales, at judy.fisher@innvesthotels.com or 613-549-8400, extension 2604.

August 6, 2024October 4, 2024

Raise your stein at Riverhead Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest in Kingston’s west end

Lederhosen, Bavarian music, schnitzel, and lager come together during Riverhead Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest.

The local brewery hosts the biggest Oktoberfest in and around Kingston on September 28 from noon to 4 pm and 6 to 10 pm at the Riverhead Brewing Company (631 Fortune Cresent).

A piece of Germany at Riverhead Brewing Company

Emulating an authentic German party, Riverhead’s Oktoberfest starts with the tapping of the keg–someone will use a wooden hammer to crack open a keg of beer.

Riverhead has created an Oktoberfest lager inspired by the drinks served at Bavarian celebrations in Munich or Berlin. At Oktoberfest in Germany, the beer is clean, light, and bready, similar to the brews you’ll try at Riverhead Brewing Company. Arrive early as the first 500 customers receive a free stein to fill with their choice of Oktoberfest lager, Festbier lager, or gluten-free seltzer.

Once your stein is full of lager and you’ve grabbed a pretzel or slice of schnitzel, head to the communal tables adorned with a blue-and-white tablecloth, showcasing traditional Bavarian colours. You’ll meet fellow beer lovers at the family-style table nestled under a large white tent supplied by Encore Tents.

If you want guaranteed seating, purchase the VIP package. VIP customers receive a free stein upon entry and have their own pour station and private washroom.

More than just a beer festival

The celebration doesn’t end with smooth lager and salty snacks–there will be games to play, like cornhole and keg rolling. Test your muscular endurance during the stein-holding competition–you’ll hold a one-litre stein of beer in front of you for as long as possible. Challenge your strength with the hammer & nail game, in which you’ll drive a nail into a wooden beam.

As you challenge your friends to these German games, enjoy Bavarian music from Supersonic Hearts Band. When their accordions and horns cease, a DJ will take the stage to keep the party going.

So, strap on your lederhosen, put on your dirndls, grab your friends, and experience this grand display of German culture in Kingston. You can purchase your tickets online. You can also buy tickets in person at the Slush Puppie Place or Riverhead Brewing Company (631 Fortune Cresent).

Make the most of your time in town

If you want to extend your stay in Kingston, enjoy a meal at a local restaurant and catch the Kingston Frontenacs’ home opener at Slush Puppie Place the night before (September 27). To learn more about Riverhead, read Meet the maker: Aaron Martin of Riverhead Brewing Company.

August 3, 2024September 20, 2024

Downtown Kingston uncorks an authentic Italian wine bar with Bobbi Pecorino’s

For years, Stev George (head chef and co-owner of Olivea) and Robert Elvy mulled the idea of opening up an authentic Italian wine bar in downtown Kingston. When the perfect space across from Springer Market Square (326 King Street East) opened Bobbi Pecorino’s was born.

Wine, selected with care

Using 35 years of experience in the wine industry, Elvy carefully curated Pecorino’s selection of organic and biodynamic reds, whites, and rosés furnishing the wine bar’s back shelves and fridges. From the distinctive location where the grapes were grown to the origins of the families who planted them, each of the 120 bottles has a unique story, catalogued in the bar’s “wine bible.”

Elvy found the best Soave Superiore white wine he’s ever tasted at a quaint boutique winery in Franchetto, Italy. In the heart of Chianti Classico, he tasted Sangiovese–based wines made by the Cappellini family. Luigi Cappellini, whom Elvy affectionately refers to as the “Pope of Sangiovese,” imports his Mini-Tuscan wine to Pecorino’s exclusively.

Reinforcing the strong bond between the Kingston owners and winemakers across the Atlantic, pictures of Pecorino’s staff with Italian producers adorn the exposed brick walls.

The wine bar is even named after the moniker “Bobbi Pecorino,” which Elvy’s Italian friends gave him.

Top-notch service

Pecorino’s offers three-to-five-ounce glasses, allowing you to enjoy a variety of wines amid the elegant and timeless ambiance. At Pecorino’s, you’re encouraged to be “wine curious”–try a grape you’ve never heard of or purchase a bottle from a region that intrigues you.

Whether you’re a vino newbie or a connoisseur, well-trained waiters will guide you through your journey tasting a Pinot Blanc “Ser Chario” from Emilia-Romagna, Tempranillo “La Secreta” from Rioja Alavesa, Spain, or Grillo “Bianco Maggiore” from Sicily.

All staff at Pecorino’s balance their tasks behind the bar and in the small, open kitchen, mirroring the operations of authentic Italian wine bars.

Further emulating the service you’d encounter at a wine bar in Sicily or Sardinia, your first bottle of wine at Pecorino’s will come with a bowl of crispy potato chips. Good wine is supposed to be enjoyed with and complement food, a sentiment that Elvy shares with wine bar owners in Italy.

Authentic Italian food

With the help of Stev George, Elvy created Pecorino’s menu featuring crostini, soft bruschetta, flavourful panini, and more.

Their crostini is served on soft bread, delicately drizzled with olive oil, and topped with fresh ingredients such as soleggiati tomatoes, pesto, honey, stracchino cheese, or prosciutto.

You can taste their cheeses and meats, sourced from Italian farms, by ordering the Tagliere–a plate covered in delectable dairy options such as gorgonzola and meats like soppressata. They rotate their meats and cheeses, offering you the freshest seasonal options.

A must-try appetizer, the Bobbi Bruschetta comes with soft, salty tomatoes and bread rubbed with garlic and olive oil–just how the Italians like it.

Specialty bottle shop and wine club

After snacking on Pecorino’s panini with fresh mozzarella and enjoying a few beverages, you can take home a bottle of crisp white or deep red wine.

Purchasing wine in the bottle shop, located at the back of Pecorino’s, is cheaper than ordering it at the table. You won’t find these bottles at the LCBO, so be sure to grab one before you leave.

Pecorino’s also hosts a Sunday Wine Club at 2:30 pm; you’ll taste four wines plus several dishes from Pecorino’s menu. To enjoy this casual way to experience wine, food, and Italian culture, you don’t need to pay a membership fee, simply a flat rate of $75.

Come by Pecorino’s for a glass of wine while you wait for your table or a nightcap after dinner on Monday to Wednesday from 3 to 9 pm, Thursday to Saturday from noon to 10 pm, and Sunday from 2 to 9 pm.

Book your table on their website today.

August 2, 2024October 4, 2024

The best-kept secrets of Kingston’s local businesses

In the heart of downtown Kingston, a cozy bookseller offers customers a three-for two book deal. A local Italian bakery sells hearty hunks of their homemade focaccia for $1.

Here are 11 of Kingston’s best-kept secrets from our beloved local businesses.

1. Card’s Bakery and Good’s sandwiches

115 Princess Street

In addition to their soft banana squares and vanilla cupcakes, Card’s Bakery also serves delicious soups, sandwiches, and wraps.

Head over to Card’s at noon and refuel with a chicken ranch wrap, egg salad sandwich, or cream of broccoli soup. Their lunch menu rotates daily.

2. YGK Thrift’s 50 percent off footwear Fridays

165 Princess Street

YGK Thrift, offering quality vintage and modern clothes at a reasonable price on Princess Street, sells sleek heels and comfortable loafers for 50 percent off on Fridays.

By purchasing a pair of running shoes or flats, you’ll contribute to Almost Home, a non-profit organization that supports families with children receiving medical care in Kingston.

For more trendy second-hand shops, check out your guide to thrifting in Kingston.

3. Dianne’s brunch

195 Ontario Street

Each brunch dish you try at Dianne’s infuses the flavours of Mexico and Canada’s East Coast.

Head to the waterfront restaurant, adorned with nautical decorations and a sunny patio, on Saturday or Sunday for brunch. Dianne’s serves mouthwatering dishes such as their beef barbacoa breakfast sandwich–a butter-toasted bun topped with Oaxacan style slow-braised beef brisket, sunny side up eggs, homemade pickled tomatoes, bacon, fresh smashed guacamole, and arbol chili mayo.

For a combination of maritime zest and classic brunch fare, try the Eggs Dianne–fish cakes and two poached eggs topped with jalapeno hollandaise.

Their tres leches pancakes–a triple stack of sweet pancakes topped with chocolate sauce, fruit, and whipped cream–will satisfy your early afternoon sweet tooth.

4. Miss Bāo Restaurant and Cocktail Bar’s events

286 Princess Street

Visit Miss Bāo for cute community-building events with a side of Japanese saké and sharable fusion plates.

Besides serving seasonal cocktails and soft bāo buns filled with locally sourced poultry and produce, Miss Bāo also hosts heart-warming events inside their building with the distinctive green and red awning. The zero-waste restaurant has previously held needle felting and bento cake-making workshops.

Head over to their Instagram to see which workshop the restaurant’s hosting next.

5. Pasta Genova’s $1 focaccia

234 Wellington Street

Stepping inside this quaint, local Italian business, you’re immediately hit with the smell of homemade tomato sauce and fresh focaccia.

Pasta Genova makes their focaccia in-store, selling hunks of the fluffy, crispy bread for $1. They make their sandwiches–filled with your choice of crisp vegetables or savory Italian meats–using the melt-in-your-mouth focaccia.

In addition to their famous bread, Pasta Genova sells ready-made products, fresh pastas, cheeses, and olive oils. Head to the charming store’s location on Wellington Street for a taste of Italy.

6. AquaTerra’s happy hour

1 Johnson Street

Boasting an uninterrupted view of the Kingston Harbour and Confederation Basin, The Vu Lounge in AquaTerra serves daily happy hour from 2 to 5 pm.

On Thursdays to Saturdays, the waterfront restaurant hosts extended happy hour until 12 am. Bring your date or your friend group for a $9 glass of house red or white wine, an $8 pint of house draft beer, or a $12 cocktail.

AquaTerra also offers 10 percent off their appetizers, including their Korean tater tots with gouchujang aioli, ponzu, bonito, scallions, sesame seeds, and toi phi, and street corn calamari–crispy fried squid with chipotle aioli, cilantro, lime crème fraîche, charred corn salsa, pickled onions, and cotija.

7. The Screening Room’s membership card

120 Princess Street

Settle into The Screening Room, a cozy cinema in the heart of downtown Kingston, with a bag of popcorn –drenched in real butter–and watch an edgy indie movie or hilarious comedy at a reduced price with the theatre’s membership card.

The Screening Room’s membership card allows both movie buffs and average cinemagoers to see films for $11 instead of the regular $14 price. Seniors and students receive discounts on the annual membership card’s initial fee.

You can purchase a membership card in person at The Screening Room or on their website.

8. Wooden Heads Gourmet Pizza’s courtyard patio

192 Ontario Street

This pizza joint has a secret back patio decorated with exposed brick, warm string lights, and wooden accents.

Gobble up their Arbre Amore pizza, doused in tomato sauce, sundried tomatoes, mozzarella, wood-roasted mushrooms, and artichoke, or the Nonna Mela pizza, topped with apple butter, roast garlic, cheddar, caramelized onions, and blackened chicken, on Wooden Head’s sunny and shaded courtyard patio today.

You can make your reservation on their website.

9. The Haunted Walk’s Hidden Kingston City Tour

200 Ontario Street

If you’re a Kingston local or visitor looking to explore the Limestone City’s secret gems, join the Haunted Walk’s new Hidden Kingston City Tour.

On this light-hearted, 90-minute walking excursion, tour guides will share surprising and fascinating stories from Kingston’s history, including the tale of two dueling doctors, bank robbers, and the city’s very own sea serpent. You can book the family-friendly adventure today on The Haunted Walk’s website.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a walking tour that will make the hairs on the back of your neck raise and send shivers down your spine, try their ghost tours.

10. Nosh Kingston’s cookies

306 Bagot Street

Known for their perfectly chewy, slightly sweet, and delicious Montreal-style bagels, Nosh Kingston also sells 23 & Co. cookies filled with marshmallows, peanut butter cups, or Oreos.

Next time you’re picking up a batch of everything or poppy seed bagels and deli cream cheese, grab a few cookies for dessert.

11. Berry & Peterson Booksellers’ buy two books, get one free deal

348 King Street East

Boasting two stories of classics, romances, and thrillers, Berry & Peterson Booksellers offers a “buy two books, get one free” deal.

Head inside the cozy used bookstore stuffed with a variety of genres, purchase a well-priced book (or multiple), then walk a few steps to Kingston Coffee House (322 King Street East), and enjoy your next read over a hot latte and pastry.

August 1, 2024

Explore the Kingston Public Market

From 1801 onwards, the square behind Kingston City Hall has been home to a bustling public market. The Kingston Public Market is the longest-running market in Ontario. For 220 years and counting, the market has brought people together-the beating heart of the limestone city. From April to November, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, you can find local producers and artisans at their booths – stocked and ready to greet visitors. Here are some of the vendors you’ll find at the Kingston Public Market.

FOOD VENDORS

Henderson Farms

Selling prize-winning jams, jellies, and marmalades handcrafted on their farm on Wolfe Island, this three-generation family business has a must–visit booth at the market. Henderson Farms offers over 58 varieties of jarred goods with enticing flavors like dandelion wine, ginger, elderberry, and rhubarb. Their pear and raspberry jam was voted best in Canada at Toronto’s Royal Agriculture Winter Fair, and the rest of their assorted jams have earned them numerous accolades. They also offer freshly baked goods that are vegan, gluten-free, and prepared in a nut-free kitchen.

Vader’s Maple Syrup

Since 1910, the Vader family has been producing maple syrup on their local farm in Prince Edward County, less than 100 km away. Their products, ranging from decadent syrups to maple sugars, butters, and jellies are all hand–crafted and harvested, making Vader’s a single-source producer. They also offer a whisky barrel–aged dark maple syrup, their most popular item and of course, bestselling classic amber and dark maple syrups. Using heritage techniques on their over 3,000 tap farm, the Vader family business brings you quality syrup straight from their maple bush.

Simple Country Pleasures

Simple Country Pleasures is a family–owned and operated business, running since 1985. Owner Lisa offers quality annuals, hanging baskets, planters, and unique perennials. Her stall also has locally grown organic and heirloom produce as well as outsourced goods from all over Ontario. Try some of her local corn, fresh blueberries from Sudbury, and other delicious fruits and vegetables from the Niagara, Toronto, and Picton regions.

Wilson Apiaries

Since 1984, the Wilsons have been bringing their home-harvested honey to the Kingston Public Market. With over 200 bee colonies and decades of experience in beekeeping, their family farm has grown into a multi-generational business. Their stall is always lined with jars of honey, fresh flowers, candles, and beeswax hand–creams–made with a 60–year–old recipe. Stop to smell their fresh lilies and pick out one of their many varieties of authentic golden honey, harvested only 90 km away.

Baycrest Farms

Baycrest Farms in Prince Edward County has been part of the Kingston Public Market since the 1970s. Owner Chris Ackerman grew up helping his mother run the stall. He prides himself on providing local food to the Kingston community, grown on Ontarian soil. Baycrest Farms sells apples and other Ontario fruit, as well as greenhouse-grown vegetables, apple cider, and flower bouquets.

ARTISANS

I.V.’s Crafts

In 1993, Iggy started crafting as a hobby. After retiring from his successful military career in 1995, he joined the public market and has been happily selling his quirky creations ever since. His stall is always full of a wide array of oddities made of repurposed materials. Working with wood, resin, bottlecaps, silverware, coins and more, Iggy’s work is motley and memorable with a little something for everyone. He enjoys what he does; it “keeps me out of my wife’s hair,” he says and he hopes to do it for another 10 to15 years. His wife, Vera, the V in “I.V.” also likes to craft, creating jewelry out of beads, buttons, and other repurposed materials.

Limestone Succulents

Passionate about the art of propagation and the durable nature of succulents, Angela is the smiling face you’ll meet at her booth “Limestone Succulents.” Displayed at her stall, you’ll find pastel-coloured plants of many varieties, beautifully arranged in equally colourful pots. The plant pots are sourced from a friend’s workshop in Toronto, and the wooden display stands from another market vendor. Angela also makes larger gift plant arrangements by commission, each one telling a story and made to order in her signature whimsical style. Bring some more life into your home with a jolly potted succulent, one that will sprout flowers even if you don’t water it.

Carolina Roja

Carolina Rojas is a creative photographer whose work is hard to miss at the market. Inspired by natural elements and textures, her photos are up-beat captures of Kingston’s iconic sights. After her husband picked up photography as a hobby, Carolina instantly took a liking to it. Her husband jokes that she surpassed him in skill. Carolina always had an artistic eye, attending fashion design school in Chile before she immigrated here 32 years ago. For Carolina, photography is more than just her business or her hobby, it’s her meditation. She sells prints, tote-bags, bookmarks, mugs, and other reproductions of her vibrant captures.

Lily Mooncat

Lesley Jardine, operating under the trademark Lily Mooncat, has participated in the public market for 15 years. She sells hand-made natural candles, soaps, body products, and hand-crafted jewelry. Her hand-made candles come in many scents and varieties, made with natural coconut wax, soy, and essential oils. Lesley’s candles are phthalate–free (meaning they contain no harmful chemicals or fragrances) and use wooden wicks that crackle when they burn. All her product ingredients and materials are sourced from Ontario. Her latest jelly candles preserve flowers sourced from another public market vendor.

Rox Rock Shop

Find a treasure trove of crystals, mineral specimens, tumbled stones, jewelry, gemstones, fossils, and decorative rocks at Rox’s Rock Shop. Running for 25 years, this booth specializes in local, Canadian, and Southwest American rocks. Its owners do all the polishing, cutting, and tumbling themselves. Stop by and take in the glittering stones.

The Windmill of Provence Pottery

Every Saturday at the market, you’ll notice a signature yellow booth pop-up. Inside the stall you’ll find hand-crafted mugs, plates, pots, bowls and other porcelain clay creations. Isabella Duc, the artist behind it all, has been coming to the public market from her studio on Wolfe Island since 2016. Isabella’s work is reflective of her background: she immigrated from France 32 years ago and studied art at a university in Versailles. Isabella loves meeting customers and has been involved with numerous craft shows and festivals over the past 30 years. Stop by her stall and admire her authentic, free-hand painted pottery collection.

Marian Maple & The Stonecutter

Since 2003, Marian has been coming to the public market to sell her metal work creations, fine crafts, and paintings. Following in the footsteps of her father – whose metal sculptures can be found dotted about the city, Marian works creatively with metal, copper, and enamel to create jewelry, and other unique items. It was at this public market that she met Dave Blair –The Stonecutter – another rock and craft enthusiast, and her future husband. Dave, an instructor and foreman at the Kingston Lapidary & Mineral Club, would sell his rock jewelry and silversmithing work at his booth under the name The Stonecutter. Now they run their booths together and have joined creative forces in crafting fine jewelry out of both rock, stone, metal, tin, and copper materials.

ShemRod

Stop by Mehry Afnan’s glittering booth where she offers her fused–glass and stained–glass creations. Made by hand in her studio, each of her unique decorative pieces are individually cut, designed, and put together with love. Mehry creates hanging glass ornaments, framed arrangements, earrings, bracelets, pendants, and rings. By fusing multiple layers of glass into one, Mehry creates unique necklace pendants that shimmer and change colour in the sun.

Not every vendor has an online presence, so the very best way to get to know them is to come out and meet them for yourself. Become a part of a 220+ year Kingston tradition and come out to the Kingston Public Market today.

Other activities in Market Square

Every Sundays June 2 through September 22, the square is also host to the Indigenous Market. Come by Springer Market Square between 10 am and 2 pm to meet the vendors and enjoy food and crafts.

Visitors can also rock out to live music concerts, watch free movies throughout the summer, and skate in the square in the winter. Visit Downtown Kingston to learn about upcoming activities in the square.

July 31, 2024

Your guide to thrifting in Kingston

If you want to treat yourself to a new, reasonably priced outfit for that Friday night dinner date or purchase retro decor for your new apartment, look no further than Kingston’s thrift stores. The Limestone City boasts a plethora of recycled clothing stores for customers wanting to make ethical fashion choices, all while looking stylish in their new outfits.

From downtown to west-end Kingston, here are some of our favourite thrift stores in the city.

YGK Thrift

165 Princess Street | 10 am – 6 pm daily

YGK thrift offers customers vintage and modern clothes for a good cause–all sale proceeds are donated to Almost Home, a non-profit organization providing a place for families to stay while their ill or injured children receive treatment in the Kingston area.

The Princess Street thrift store’s brick-walled, clean interior boasts frequent discounts on their already well-priced accessories and clothes. On Fridays, footwear, from sleek loafers to fashionable heels, is 50 percent off.

Follow their Instagram account for in-store promotions and pop-ups around Kingston.

Montreal Street Collective

39 Montreal Street | 12 pm – 5 pm daily

Montreal Street Collective’s black-painted exterior, decorated with white chalk art, stands out against the red brick building surrounding the thrift, vintage, and antique store.

Inside, Montreal Street Collective is adorned with colourful art, western-style trinkets, and, of course, racks of trendy vintage and modern clothes. Each rack is curated by one of 10 clothing vendors, like Specadirt Vintage, so your perfect summer, winter, or fall lookbook is already laid out for you.

In addition to clothes, Montreal Street Collective invites 25 makers and vendors to sell their houseware and handmade goodies. Buy a vase for your kitchen table or a small ceramic dish for your jewelry.

During the summer months, the thrift store hosts Vintage Markets outside their Montreal Street location. Follow their Instagram for updates.

The Goodway

844 Division Street | Monday – Wednesday 9 am – 5 pm, Thursday – Friday 9 am – 6 pm, Saturday 9 am – 4 pm, Sunday closed

Add The Goodway to your list of reliable thrift stores in Kingston. From clothes to CDs, artwork to maternity wear, everyday and obscure products line The Goodway’s racks and shelves. If you’re a student, senior, or in the military, you’ll receive a discount on your purchase.

All sale proceeds go towards organizations which help people get re-trained, re-educated, and re-employed in Kingston. The Goodway has donated sale proceeds to several Kingston-based organizations including The Mess Studio–providing a safe space for community members to connect over art–and Breast Cancer Action Kingston–a non-profit organization providing support, empowerment, and education to Kingstonians impacted by breast cancer.

Threads & Co.

845 Princess Street | Wednesday – Thursday 12 – 5 pm, Friday – Monday closed

Threads & Co. boasts walls of heels, sandals, and flats, as well as a wide selection of vintage and new clothes.

The thrift store is owned by Dress for Success Kingston (700 Dalton Avenue), an organization that helps women achieve economic independence, providing them with support and professional attire. All sale proceeds are donated to the non-profit organization.

Simply New to You

1440 Princess Street | Wednesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday – Tuesday closed

Need a cute onesie for your best friend’s baby shower or a cozy sweater for your kiddo? Visit Simply New to You for well-priced, high-quality children’s clothes, footwear, games, puzzles, and movies.

Simply New to You’s charming location on Princess Street also offers a plethora of maternity and nursing clothes for soon-to-be and new mothers.

If you can’t make the trip down to the store, you can order their handmade, recycled clothes online at Simply New to You’s website.

The Revolving Door

500 Gardiners Road | Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday – Monday closed

As the name suggests, this thrift store has a revolving door of upscale women’s clothes.

The Revolving Door sells a variety of women’s clothes and accessories, ranging from Christian Louboutin pumps to Michael Kors handbags. All items are priced at one-third of their original retail value, and occasionally even less.

Cementing their commitment to quality merchandise, the west-end thrift store only accepts clean and laundered donations. So, grab a dress shirt for the office or a flowy dress for your next brunch date at The Revolving Door.

ClosettCandyy Consignment

94 Brock Street | Monday – Friday 11 am – 5 pm, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 11 am – 4 pm

Looking to spice up your style? Head over to Closettcandy Consignment for a fashion refresh.

Owner Jesse Whale has created a body-positive, inclusive style consultation business helping women tackle their wardrobe demons and discover their personal flair.

Devoted to sustainability, all ClosettCandy’s clothes are purchased second-hand. They accept donations from a select number of higher-end stores, such as Aritzia, Calvin Klein, and Oak + Fort.

The consignment store offers closet audits–helping you dig through the heaps of clothes on your bedroom floor– and outfit styling sessions. Their personal style transformation package includes the closet audit and outfit styling services, in addition to a wardrobe planning and shopping session during which Jesse will design you a new lookbook. For more on their services, check out ClosettCandy Consignment’s website.

You’ll leave feeling empowered and ready to show off your new wardrobe.

Antique Alley & Kate’s Vintage Kloset

207B Wellington Street | Friday–Monday 11 am – 5 pm, Tuesday–Thursday closed

Tucked away in an arched alleyway on Wellington Street is a 4,000-square-foot treasure-trove of quirky retro items and vintage clothes.

Antique Alley offers a unique selection of high-quality vintage goods, including a Coca-Cola machine from the mid-20th century, tiffany blue drawers, and a jukebox. For everyday household items and decor, the retro store sells rocking chairs, candle holders, and delicate China pots.

Within Antique Alley is Kate’s Vintage Kloset, offering elaborate, old-timey shoes, purses, costume jewelry, and clothes. Indulge in the store’s ’50s-style glamour.

Owners Gayle and Gary will gladly help you find whatever items you need.

What’ll I Wear

732 Princess Street | Sunday – Tuesday 12 pm – 5 pm, Wednesday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm

For over 25 years, What’ll I Wear has provided customers with well-priced retro and modern clothes for Christmas parties, Halloween costumes, and everyday wear.

This small but well-organized thrift store boasts all types of clothes, from sweater vests decorated with cats to fluffy jackets, keeping you warm during the cold winter months. They also have a variety of shoes, coloured hairsprays, eye masks, gloves–anything you can think of.

Decorated with a colourful block lettered sign, What’ll I Wear is hard to miss, and their well-priced clothes are hard to pass up.

Phase 2

353 Princess Street | Monday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday closed

This large Princess Street clothing store is the perfect place to complete your Queen’s Homecoming look for cheap.

Phase 2 has been selling recycled clothes to Kingston community members and visitors since 1981. Explore the racks upon racks of clothes and discover their quality T-shirts, pants, dresses, scrubs, chef uniforms, and Queen’s sweaters.

Talize Thrift

540 Gardiner Road | 9 am – 9 pm daily

This Canadian-owned thrift store chain has all the discounted clothes, accessories, and home goods you need to complete your closet and decorate your home.

Inside Talize’s orange-accented exterior is a large thrift store with daily deals. On top of in-store promotions, Talize provides students and seniors with a 10 percent discount.

If you’re looking for a dinner-date outfit or a pair of well-fitting jeans, Talize has you covered.

Mission Thrift

2455 Princess Street | Monday – Friday 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday closed

You’ll find exactly what you need at this green thrift store for a fraction of the price.

A beloved thrifting chain, Mission Thrift sells discounted clothes for a good cause–all net proceeds to go BFM Foundation Canada and Bible League Canada. If you’re looking to declutter your closet, the Princess Street thrift store accepts donations.

Refresh your closet and create a positive impact on the environment at Mission Thrift.